In this episode of Dad’s First Words, we meet Zarryon, a new dad just 11 weeks in — and already with one hell of a story.

After an 83-hour labour that started as a home birth with midwife Abbey, Zarryon and his wife ended up in hospital — where they were met with cold, clinical treatment from a rotation of doctors and pushy staff. What should’ve been a beautiful moment quickly turned into a test of patience, strength, and trust in their instincts.

Zarryon talks about staying calm, standing up for his wife, and wishing more medical staff were trained in compassion as much as care. He also shares what he’s learning as a new dad — celebrating the small wins, supporting his partner, and letting go of perfection.

From the gentle giant who once played pro basketball in Europe to the tender new dad who found hope in a nurse calling his wife “sweet pea,” this one’s a real and honest chat about birth, fatherhood, and the strength that comes from love.

Adam shares what it was really like welcoming his daughter Teja at home — from the prep leading up to the birth, to those raw first days of fatherhood. With the steady support of Kate (their midwife/doula), Adam and his partner leaned on hypnobirthing techniques to stay calm and present through the whole experience.

They also chose something many people haven’t seen firsthand: a lotus birth. Instead of cutting the cord straight away, they kept the placenta attached until it naturally separated. Adam talks about why that decision mattered to them, how it felt in practice, and the sense of connection it created.

This chat isn’t just about the birth itself — it’s about the mindset shifts, the role of preparation, and what dads actually go through as they step into parenthood. Also, fellas, take it from Adam... leave the garlic out of your pre-birth meal.

We cover:

• The build-up and reality of a natural home birth
• The meaning and process of lotus birth and placenta care
• Hypnobirthing techniques and how they helped on the day
• The role of a doula/midwife in creating calm and safety
• Adam’s reflections on fatherhood, support and staying grounded

Check out Adam and his wife Nat’s beautiful children’s book One Teeny Tiny Seed here.

No two births are the same — make that no THREE births are the same. Today, Josh lets us into the three most intimate, most incredible moments of his and his wife Sarah's lives: the births of their kiddos, each experience as wild, unique and (honestly) jaw-dropping as the next.

We cover:

• Gender Disappointment — and how to move through it without shame
• Having a Small for Gestational Age baby
• Home birthing vs hospital birthing — and how to confidently prepare for either
• Life after the first (and second and third) bub
• How to be the most supportive birth partner

This chat really has it all and I felt so fortunate to be on the other side of the mic, listening to Josh's experiences and wisdom.

Some handy resources we mention:

• Documentary: Born At Home (https://bornathomefilm.com/)
• Podcast: The Great Birth Rebellion with Dr Melanie Jackson (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion)

Kyfer has all the energy of someone who's never hit the snooze button. Because this very adventurous dad of three gets his fuel from far better sources than extra shut-eye: his little ones, his wife and his deep passion for home birth.

Taking this call on his trip-without-end around Australia in a caravan, Kyfer gives advice to expecting dads as they step into the wild unknown of a) childbirth and b) childbirth at home. How to prepare, how to be the best birth partner and how this massive life change needn't be feared — all this and more is covered in our very fun one-hour conversation.

We mention our mutual midwife several times, because... well, she's just that damn wonderful. If you're in West Australia and want the same support our wives and us were privileged to, reach out to Abbey Rodda (https://www.abbeythemidwife.com.au/).

One moment Chad and Rachel were preparing for a calm, empowering home birth. The next, everything changed. An unexpected turn saw Rachel transferred to hospital, and Chad found himself driving behind the ambulance carrying his wife and unborn daughter.

In this first episode of Dad’s First Words, Chad shares the raw, emotional story of Kya’s birth — from the preparation for a home birth, to the reality of hospital intervention, and what it felt like to step up as a dad in the middle of it all.

We talk about what dads can expect when plans shift, how to navigate the hospital system under pressure, and the importance of being present and supportive through every stage of labour and birth.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• What it’s like when a planned home birth becomes a hospital transfer
• How Chad processed the sudden change and kept grounded
• The challenges of stepping into the hospital system as a home birthing dad
• Why being of service to your partner and newborn is so powerful
• Lessons on support, presence and fatherhood from day one

Chad’s story is a reminder that birth rarely goes exactly to plan, but dads can play a huge role in holding space and offering strength when it matters most.

A huge thanks to Chad for the incredible chat, the first on Dad's First Words. I couldn't have asked for a better conversation get this podcast off and running.

Before the birth of my little girl, I couldn’t find any podcasts for new dads. Most were for fathers already years into the journey—dealing with teenagers, school, big kid challenges. But nothing about the raw early questions: What’s it like when your whole life suddenly shifts? What do you actually do before, during and after the birth? And seriously—what even is colostrum?

So I decided to make one myself. Not another advice show, but real stories. I sat down with dads at every stage—some with decades of experience, others just days in—to hear what fatherhood really feels like in those first moments.

Each conversation is unique, but they all share one thing in common: every dad I spoke to has been part of a home birth. Even if that’s not your path—or you’re still on the fence—you’ll find plenty of insight, reassurance and honesty in these chats.

This is Dad’s First Words.